What is the King’s Counsel (KC) and who is eligible to be appointed? We look at the history of the King’s Counsel and list all Queen’s Counsel and King’s Counsel appointments since 1970.
What is a King’s Counsel?
The rank of King’s Counsel, formerly Queen’s Counsel, is awarded to barristers and solicitors who have demonstrated skill excellence in advocacy. The rank is formally bestowed on successful applicants during an appointment ceremony at Westminster Hall, presided over by the lord chancellor.
The rank carries the post-nominal initials ‘KC’, or ‘QC’ during the reign of a queen. However, if there is a change of monarch, post-nominals also change. For example, if you were appointed as a QC during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, your post-nominal will now be KC.
The King’s or Queen’s Counsel, depending on the sovereign of the time, has been awarded in various forms for over 400 years, with the first Queen's Counsel appointed in 1597 by Queen Elizabeth I.
The first women to be appointed as King's Counsel in the UK were Helena Normanton and Rose Heilbron in 1949 (Gazette issue 38595).
Who is eligible to be a King’s Counsel?
Senior barristers and solicitors are invited to apply through an open competition, which is held annually. KCs are then selected by an independent panel of lawyers, judges and non-lawyers.
To be eligible, applicants must:
- hold rights of audience in the Higher Courts of England and Wales and a current practising certificate
- have demonstrated excellence in advocacy in cases of substance in the higher courts of England and Wales or in tribunals, arbitrations or other forums
- demonstrate consistent excellence across each of the competencies
- provide evidence of both written and oral advocacy in relation to developing and advancing a client’s case, although the best outcome may have been achieved through arbitration, court determination or a settlement agreement
Applications for the 2026 competition will close on 24 April 2026. Find out more about the KC application process opens new window.
Where can I see King’s Counsel and Queen’s Counsel appointments?
You can search for all King's/Queen's Counsel appointments by searching the All notices section of The Gazette. Since 1998, appointments also appear as separate notices in The Gazette.
You can see all appointments to His/Her Majesty’s Counsel since 1970 below:
Celebrate your honour with a commemorative edition
If you or a loved one have been awarded the rank of King’s Counsel or Queen’s Counsel, The Gazette is available to buy as a personalised commemorative edition. Each pack contains a complete edition of The Gazette from the day the honour was published.
See also
Birthday and New Year Honours lists (1937 to 2025)
The King's Award for Voluntary Service
The King's Awards for Enterprise
Find out more
King’s Counsel Appointments opens new window
King’s Counsel Appointments: Guidance for applicants opens new window
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Publication updated
31 March 2025
Any opinion expressed in this article is that of the author and the author alone, and does not necessarily represent that of The Gazette.